Catholic Charities welcomes new executive director

by Frank Lee

operations@thenewsleaders.com

The corporate board of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud recently appointed Stephen Pareja, a Sartell resident and St. John’s University graduate, as the organization’s new executive director, effective Nov. 28.

Pareja will replace Steven Bresnahan, who is retiring from leading central Minnesota’s largest non-profit human-service organization after more than two decades.

“We’re thrilled to have someone of Stephen Pareja’s caliber leading such an important part of our faith community,” said Bishop Donald Kettler during an Oct. 28 press conference at Catholic Charities in St. Cloud.

The organization, which serves 16 counties across the heart of Minnesota, conducted a nationwide search to fill the position but found Pareja in Stearns County.

“My Catholic faith has always been an important part of my life, and Catholic Charities is an organization I respect very much,” said Pareja, who served as director of Clinical Services at CentraCare Health, Monticello.

He has more than 30 years of experience in serving others, mostly in the health-care industry. Pareja graduated from Indiana University with degrees in radiologic technology and business. He has a master’s degree in health-care administration from Ohio University and is a Catholic deacon with a master’s in theology from St. John’s University.

“I’m excited to be able to combine my faith life and work life while serving those in need in our community,” said Pareja, who is also a deacon at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sartell.

Catholic Charities is a nonprofit organization that advances the charitable and social mission of the Diocese of St. Cloud and “builds communities, promotes family life, and enhances human dignity by providing quality services to meet the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals and families of all faiths and beliefs.”